Dover sweeps aside Nashua South

Saturday

Oct 6, 2012 at 3:15 AM

By Mike Whaleymwhaley@fosters.com

DOVER — It's official. This is the best season in the short history of the Dover High School volleyball program.The Green Wave swept past Nashua South Friday night in three games, winning by scores of 25-17, 25-19, 25-15. It was their school-record 12th win, eclipsing the previous mark of 11, set last year. The Green Wave are 12-2 with four matches to play and are poised to finish in the top four in Division I. Although Dover struggled serving (13 errors), their offense ran smoothly for the most part. Molly Wotton turned in perhaps her best all-around effort at the net with 13 kills and six blocks. Abby Harte added 20 assists and Reegan McKenney had 12 digs.“That's always the goal, try to get ahead of where we ended last year,” said Dover coach Colleen Harte. “I was pleased with the composure, although that's not to say they had a reason to get rattled. They are still pushing themselves to play aggressively.”Dover led 7-6 in Game 1, but an 8-2 run got the lead to 15-8, and South got no closer than six the rest of the way. Two Wotton blocks and a kill were key. Megan Priester served for the first eight points in Game 2, aided by two Wotton kills and a block.“I focused more on my hitters to see where the ball was,” Wotton said. “I just got in line with them.”South closed the gap to 18-14 on one of Dover's service errors. Priester served for three more points to get the lead to 22-14, and sewed up the game with a nice place shot from Jenn Gintovt. “Our passing was really good tonight,” said Abby Harte, “and even when it wasn't, our hitters did a good job of putting the ball away. We just had the momentum the whole game.”In the final game, Dover went up 12-3 on six service points from Shannon Goff, and then cruised to a 10-point win.Moving forward, Dover is eyeing a top-four finish and the potential home playoff matches that go with it. The Green Wave play at Bedford next Friday, but in the last week of the season have key matches against top-eight teams in Goffstown and Pinkerton.“Our goal is to finish out here with wins,” coach Harte added. “Hopefully we can push through and do that. It will be nice to play some good , competitive matches.”Dover has never hosted a playoff match, nor won a playoff match. Getting home court is a big deal for this team.“That has been our goal all year to have at least one round of playoffs at home,” Abby Harte said. “I'm pretty sure that's going to happen.”Nashua South fell to 4-9 and is trying to rebuild after losing seven seniors coupled with three injuries. Coach Bonny Ducharme felt, while Dover is good, her team had chances to step up and did not.“My girls were psyching themselves out,” Lachance said. “We weren't there. They were delayed in every aspect. It's basically errors, silly errors.”